Best Cozy Classic Movies to Enjoy With Tea in Winter
Winter has finally arrived, bringing with it cozy nights wrapped in fuzzy blankets and snuggly sweaters. Cue the classic movies and hot tea! There’s nothing I enjoy more than holding a steaming cup of tea, feeling the warmth seep into my fingers while the fragrant steam dances around my chilly nose. In this time of long nights and candle lights, sipping this magical brew while enjoying an old film is a great way to indulge in the charms of the season.
Here are my top 10 classic movies full of winter ambiance and cozy vibes to enhance cuddling up with a warm cup of tea. (In no particular order)
Portrait of Jennie (1948): Directed by William Dieterle, Starring Jennifer Jones & Joseph Cotten
Poetic, beautiful, and artistic. Portrait of Jennie captures the soft surreal quality of a cozy dream. There are several scenes of Central Park blanketed in snow. Characters enjoy tea by a cozy fire, mugs of hot chocolate, and ice skating. This movie has elements of the supernatural and a sense of the bittersweet. I enjoy the cinematography and Joseph Cotten’s voice is like a warm, comforting blanket.
The Invisible Man (1933): Directed by James Whale, Starring Claude Rains & Gloria Stewart
Cozy, yet lively as a crackling Yule log. The movie opens with a winter wind blowing across a snowy English countryside. This is a great movie to curl up under a blanket and enjoy the flurries of snow, Claude Rain’s delightful laughter, and some awesome special effects. We are treated to scenes with tea and the title character in pajamas, making this one of the coziest Universal Studios Classic “Monster” movies.
The Bishop’s Wife (1947): Directed by Henry Koster, Starring Loretta Young, David Niven, & Cary Grant
A heartwarming Christmas comedy. David Niven embodies a classic cup of English tea, Cary Grant raises our spirits like that first sip of a favorite blend, and Loretta Young brings the peaceful charm of an afternoon tea experience. Once again, we find a movie that treats us to snowy Central Park scenes, ice skating, and a touch of bittersweet romance.
Christmas in Connecticut (1945): Directed by Peter Godfrey, Starring Barbara Stanwyk & Dennis Morgan
The merry mirth of a screwball comedy at Christmas time. This film will pep you up like a cup of Christmas tea full of warming spices. I love Barbara Stanwyk and her fiery spirit is a joy to watch in this cozy winter film. We are also treated to a delightful supporting cast, including S.Z. Sakall who always puts a smile on my face.
I’ll be Seeing You (1945): Directed by William Dieterle, Starring Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten, & Shirley Temple
A Christmas romance full of warmth, compassion, and a little drama. Just like a cup of tea can heal the soul, this movie features tender moments that only Ginger Rogers can deliver with her endearing quality. Also, we have another movie with Joseph Cotten and his calming voice.
Spellbound (1945): Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Starring Ingrid Bergman & Gregory Peck
If Psycho is a cozy rainy-day movie, Spellbound is a cozy winter’s day movie. Like a well-blended tea, Hitchcock treats us to a flavorful mix of mystery, suspense and romance. I love the performances of Ingrid Bergman and a very young Gregory Peck (this was his 4th film). However, the Salvador Dali dream sequence and the film’s theme song by Miklos Rozsa are what make this movie special. I can’t say too much about the winter aspect of this movie since it’s part of the plot, but it’s there!
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942): Directed by Orson Welles, Starring Joseph Cotten (are we noticing a theme here?), Tim Holt, Dolores Costello, and more (it’s a big cast)
A rich drama spanning generations presented in a feast for the eyes, courtesy of Mr. Welles. This film features delightful complexity like a tea with deep notes. We are treated to a full cast of characters, a big Victorian house, and a snowy drive in Edwardian times. Apparently, Joseph Cotten is the classic actor who evokes the coziest vibes for me. Unintentionally, I’ve ended up with three of his films on this list! The Magnificent Ambersons is a lovely long movie to savor on a cozy day and I prefer it to Citizen Kane. (Speaking of Citizen Kane, it is also a fitting winter movie… “Rosebud”… also Joseph Cotten is in it.)
Larceny Inc. (1942): Directed by Lloyd Bacon, Starring Edward G. Robinson & Jane Wyman
Will you take a splash of mobster in your Christmas comedy movie? I do enjoy the mobster movies of Cagney, Bogart, Raft, and Robinson, so I was delighted when I happened across this movie. I think this movie is adorable and it brightens me up like a cheery cup of tea. This movie has a fun premise, a cute father daughter story, and a bit of young Anthony Quinn. This movie endeared me to Edward G. Robinson and the heart he puts into acting.
Shop Around the Corner (1940): Directed by Ernst Lubitsh, Starring Jimmy Stewart & Margaret Sullavan
The original You’ve Got Mail! This is my favorite Jimmy Stewart movie to enjoy at Christmas time, full of humor, entertaining supporting characters, and wonderful dialogue. I would enjoy this with a lovely spiced tea, full of cinnamon and clove, to pair with the snowy setting of Budapest and the cozy titular store.
It’s always a conundrum trying to decide who fills the last spot on a list. I had a few more classic black and white movies in mind, but none that stood out above the others. So, I decided to break the mold with my favorite actor (who is known for breaking the mold), Michael Caine. (Because anything with Michael Caine in it, is worth watching with tea).
Segment “Snow” from Woman Times Seven (1967): Directed by Vittorio De Sica, Starring Shirley MacLaine & Michael Caine
The last installment, in a film of seven very 60’s vignettes, is the one worth watching. Staring Shirley MacLain, the “Jeanne/Snow” segment features Michael Caine and is set in Paris in winter. I love this vignette for the music, the feelings it evokes, all capped off with beautiful photography, pacing, and fresh falling snow. The characters even take a tea break at one point. All the vignettes in this movie have, you could say European, themes of love and infidelity. “Snow” stands apart for capturing the whimsy of daydream and fantasy, and the ultimate, but not unpleasant return to reality.
Hopefully, there’s something on this list you haven’t seen and it provides you with a cozy tea and movie experience! Comment and share your favorite classic films to enjoy in winter with a comforting cup of tea.